he would be likely to see them.  There was no question that there was grave risk in this journey.  Not only was the winter approaching, and the daylight limited, but the sea-ice over which they must march was most dangerous.  Sea-ice is always forming and being blown out to sea, or just floating away on the tide at this time of year.  The amount of old ice which had remained during the summer was certain to be limited:  the new ice was thin and might take them out with it at any time.  However, what could be done had to be done.

Before they left certain signals by means of rockets and Very lights were arranged, to be sent up by us at Hut Point if Campbell arrived:  signals had also been arranged between Hut Point and Cape Evans in view of certain events.  We did not have, but I think we ought to have had some form of portable heliograph for communications between Hut Point and Cape Evans when the sun was up and some kind of lamp signal apparatus to use during the winter.

They started at 10.30 A.M. on Wednesday, April 17.  The sun was now only just peeping over the northern horizon at mid-day, and would disappear entirely in six more days, though of course there was a long twilight as yet.  For fresh men on old sea-ice it would not have been an easy venture:  for worn-out men on a coast where the ice was probably freezing and blowing out at odd times it was very brave.

They had hard pulling their first two days, and the minimum temperature for the corresponding nights was -43 deg. and -45 deg..  Consequently they soon began to be iced up.  On the other hand they found old sea-ice and made good some 25 miles, camping on the evening of the 18th about four miles from the Eskers.  Next morning they had to venture upon newly frozen ice, and a blizzard wind was blowing.  They crossed the four miles from their night camp to the Eskers, glad enough to reach land the other side without the ice going to sea with them.  They then turned towards the Butter Point Depot, but were compelled to camp owing to the blizzard which came on with full force.  The rise in temperature to zero caused a general thaw of sleeping-bags and clothing which dried but little when the sun had no power.  On the following morning they reached the Butter Point Depot, which they found with difficulty, for there was no flag standing.  Even as they struck their camp they saw the ice to the north of them breaking up and going out to sea.  There was nothing to do but to turn back, for neither could they go north to Campbell nor could Campbell come south to them.  Wright now told Atkinson how much he had been opposed to this journey all along:  “he had come on this trip fully believing that there was every possibility of the party being lost, but had never demurred and never offered a contrary opinion, and one cannot be thankful enough to such men."[277] They made up the Butter Point Depot, marked it as well as they could in case Campbell should arrive there, and left two weeks’ provisions for him.  They could do no more.